System and apparatus for print media manufacturing buffering and sorting, and corresponding method thereof

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are described for providing a multiple process workflow. The system includes a first process device configured to convey at least a portion of a printed element and an apparatus. The apparatus includes a storage section, an input section configured to receive the at least a portion of the printed element, a gripper configured to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the input section to the storage section and to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section, and an output section configured to selectively transfer the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section. The system further includes a second process device configured to perform at least one operation on the at least a portion of the printed element.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/511,983 filed Jul. 15, 2019, entitled “System and Apparatus for PrintMedia Manufacturing Buffering and Sorting, and Corresponding MethodThereof,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/036,407 filed Jul. 16, 2018, entitled “System and Apparatus for PrintMedia Manufacturing Buffering and Sorting, and Corresponding MethodThereof” (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,351,360 on Jul. 16, 2019),which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/701,046 filed Sep. 11, 2017, entitled “System and Apparatus for PrintMedia Manufacturing Buffering and Sorting, and Corresponding MethodThereof” (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,246,277 on Apr. 2, 2019), eachof which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patentdisclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patentfile or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to systems and method forproviding a print media manufacturing buffering and sorting andcorresponding methods thereof. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to providing a decentralized multi-process print mediamanufacturing system, apparatus, and method providing routingcapabilities to route in-process units to available processes.

Existing systems suffer numerous process delays and drawbacks. Forexample, in various systems, a transport station is a central element ofthe production system, but is only capable of providing a staticconfiguration. In such a system, all products enter the transportstation at a fixed location, providing a rigid and inefficient processflow.

In existing zone-based manufacturing and assembly processes, if aproduct is delivered into particular zone in error due to misplacedproduct covers by an operator, robots of different zones must typicallymove out of their respective zone(s). Only then may a robot of theparticular zone obtain the product and transport the product forprocessing. These deficiencies result in lost production and increasedprocess complexity.

Although misplaced covers are no longer a concern some existing systems(e.g., because of automated cover distribution configured to providecovers to various processes), control can still cause robots to move outof their respective zone depending on distances between pick-up anddrop-off locations. As such, cross-feed issues still occur and causelosses in productivity in the system 400.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for providing amultiple process workflow. The system includes a first process deviceconfigured to convey at least a portion of a printed element and anapparatus. The apparatus includes a storage section, an input sectionconfigured to receive the at least a portion of the printed element, agripper configured to selectively transport the at least a portion ofthe printed element from the input section to the storage section and toselectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element fromthe storage section, and an output section configured to selectivelytransfer the at least a portion of the printed element from the storagesection. The system further includes a second process device configuredto perform at least one operation on the at least a portion of theprinted element.

The first process device may perform at least one of a printingoperation, a sorting operation, a collating operation, a joggingoperation, a book covering operation, or a page combining operation.

The second process device may perform at least one of a printingoperation, a sorting operation, a collating operation, a joggingoperation, a book covering operation, or a page combining operation.

The storage section of the apparatus may include at least one segmenthaving a plurality of ridges and valleys, the segment configured tostore thereupon the at least a portion of the printed element.

The input section may include a visual indicia detector configured toidentify at least one property associated with the at least a portion ofthe printed element.

The apparatus further may further include a second gripper, the secondgripper associated with at least one of the input section and the outputsection, the second gripper configured to perform at least one of:selectively transporting the at least a portion of the printed elementfrom the input section to the storage section, selectively transportingthe at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section,and selectively transporting the at least a portion of the printedelement to the output section.

The gripper and the second gripper may cooperatively operate to performat least one of buffering and sorting.

The gripper may perform operations associated with the at least aportion of the printed element relating to the input section, andwherein the second gripper is configured to perform operationsassociated with the at least a portion of the printed element inrelation to the output section.

The apparatus may further include a processor configured to control atleast one operation of the apparatus.

The processor may cause the gripper to selectively transport a mediaportion received at the input section to the storage section uponreceipt of the media portion, and to selectively cause the gripper totransport the media portion to the output section based at least in partupon a control signal received at the processor.

A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system forperforming at least one of buffering or sorting a printed element. Thesystem includes a first process device configured to convey at least aportion of a printed element and an apparatus. The apparatus includes astorage section including at least one segment having a plurality ofridges and valleys, the at least one segment configured to store the atleast a portion of the printed element and a gripper configured toselectively transport the at least portion of the printed element to andfrom the storage section. The system further includes an output sectionconfigured to selectively output the at least portion of the printedelement and a second process device configured to perform at least oneoperation in association with the at least a portion of the printedelement.

The first process device may perform at least one of a printingoperation, a sorting operation, a collating operation, a joggingoperation, a book covering operation, or a page combining operation.

The second process device may perform at least one of a printingoperation, a sorting operation, a collating operation, a joggingoperation, a book covering operation, or a page combining operation.

The storage section may includes a first storage portion and a secondstorage portion, each of the first storage portion and the secondstorage portion having a respective plurality of ridges and a respectiveplurality of valleys formed therein, the plurality of ridges and theplurality of valleys configured to form at least one cavity, wherein theplurality of ridges of the first storage portion and the second storageportion, and the plurality of valleys of the first storage portion andthe second storage portion are configured such that at least a portionof the at least one gripper is received in the at least one cavity.

A still further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system forperforming at least one of buffering or sorting a printed element. Thesystem includes a first process device configured to convey at least aportion of a printed element and a storage section. The storage sectionincludes at least one gripper, a plurality of ridges and a plurality ofvalleys configured to form at least one cavity, wherein the plurality ofridges and the plurality of valleys are configured such that at least aportion of the at least one gripper is received in the at least onecavity, and an output section configured to selectively output the atleast portion of the printed element. The system further includes asecond process device having a second operation configuration, thesecond process device configured to perform at least one operation inassociation with the at least a portion of the printed element.

The first process device may perform at least one of a printingoperation, a sorting operation, a collating operation, a joggingoperation, a book covering operation, or a page combining operation.

The second process device may perform at least one of a printingoperation, a sorting operation, a collating operation, a joggingoperation, a book covering operation, or a page combining operation.

Numerous other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon areading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an existing printed product production system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second existing production system.

FIG. 3 provides a more detailed illustration of the relationship andoperations between processes provided in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a third existing implementation of a system forproviding printed products.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of abuffer according various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front, raised perspective view of an exemplaryembodiment of a buffer according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 provides a partial side view of an exemplary embodiment of abuffer according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a partial cutaway side view of a lower section of anexemplary embodiment of a buffer according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a raised perspective view of an exemplary embodimentof a gripper according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates a partial side view of an exemplary embodiment of abuffer according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates a raised perspective view of an exemplary embodimentof a robot according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates a partial raised perspective view of an exemplaryembodiment of the storage section according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates a partial front view of a storage section of FIG.12, according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a system for providingprinted products using at least one unit for buffering and/or sorting,according to aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the presentinvention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated thatthe present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts thatcan be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways tomake and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of theinvention.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-14, exemplary systems, apparatuses, andmethods for providing print media assembly, buffering, and sorting areillustrated in greater detail. Where the various figures may describeembodiments sharing various common elements and features with otherembodiments, similar elements and features are given the same referencenumerals and redundant description thereof may be omitted below.

FIG. 1 illustrates an existing printed product production system 100.The system illustrated in FIG. 1 implements four separate processes toproduce a printed product. The system begins at a process P1, where anoperation corresponding to the first process P1 is implemented on atleast a portion of an input product. The process P1 may be implementedin whole or in part by one or more process systems P1.1, P1.2, . . . ,P1.n. The output from each of the processes P1.1-P1.n is received at atransport station TS. Each of the products entering the transportstation TS arrive at a fixed location for each of the process systemsP1.1, P1.2, . . . , P1.n. One or more robots may be implemented at thetransport station TS to move at least a portion of the product betweenprocesses. For example, at least a portion of a product generated by theprocess P1.1 is received at a compartment C_(in) 1.1, at least a portionof a product generated by the process P1.2 is received at a compartmentC_(in) 1.2, at least a portion of a product generated by the processP1.n is received at a compartment C_(in) 1.n, etc.

The transport station TS includes two or more robots (e.g., robotsR1/R2) to transfer products between compartments and processes duringoperation. For example, the one or more robots may transfer at least aportion of the product generated by the first processes P1.1, P1.2, . .. , P1.n from the compartments C_(in) 1.1, C_(in) 1.2, . . . , C_(in)1.n to one or more corresponding process 3 compartments C_(out) 3.1,C_(out) 3.2, . . . , C_(out) 3.n. The product received in thecompartments C_(out) 3.1, C_(out) 3.2, . . . , C_(out) 3.n may beprocessed by the corresponding process P3.1, P3.2, . . . , P3.n. Onceprocessed by the process P3, at least a portion of the processed productmay be transferred to a transport mechanism TM. The transport mechanismTM may be a conveyor configured to transport at least a portion of aproduct from the process P3 to a process P4.

The process P4 includes a plurality of process systems P4.1, P4.2, . . ., P4.n. The transport mechanism TM is configured to provide at least aportion of the product operated upon by the process P3 to the processP4, where at least one of the process systems P4.1, P4.2, . . . , P4.nis configured to perform one or more operations on or corresponding tothe at least a portion of the product operated upon by the process P3.Once the operations corresponding to the process P4 are completed, theproduct is transported back to the transport station TS via thetransport mechanism TM and at least one of the process systems P3.1,P3.2, . . . , P3.n. The product is placed into one or more of thecompartments C_(in) 3.1, C_(in) 3.2, . . . C_(in) 3.n designated for theprocess P3, and is then transferred to a process P5 via the robots ofthe transport system TS (i.e., via process P5 input compartments C_(out)5.1, C_(out) 5.2, C_(out) 5.n).

Once received at the process P5, one or more operations is performed onat least a portion of the product by at least one of the process systemsP5.1, P5.2, . . . , P5.n. The processed at least a portion of product isthen transported to the transport station TS via at least one of theprocess P5 output compartments C_(in) 5.1, C_(in) 5.2, . . . , Cin5.n.The robots of the transport station TS then transport the product fromthe process P5 output compartments to at least one process P9compartment C9.1, C9.2, . . . , C9.n. The process systems P9.1, P9.2, .. . , P9.n then perform at least one operation upon the product receivedat the compartments C9.1, C9.2, . . . , C9.n. A production process mayconclude at the process P9, for example, where the process P9 is a bookcovering process or a distribution processing station.

The system illustrated by FIG. 1 provides that all possible cross-feedsare managed by the robots of the transport station TS and permits bothprinted product manufacturing and distribution in a single system.However, the system illustrated by FIG. 1 suffers numerous processdelays and drawbacks. For example, the transport station TS is a centralelement of the production system but provides a static configuration.For example, all products enter the transport station TS at a fixedlocation.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second existing production system 200. Like thesystem 100 of FIG. 1, the system 200 begins at a first process P1, whereat least one operation corresponding to the first process P1 isimplemented on at least a portion of an input product. The process P1may be implemented in whole or in part by one or more process systemsP1.1, P1.2, . . . , P1.n. The output from each of the process systemsP1.1-P1.n is received at a corresponding zone of a transport station TS.Each zone of the transport station TS has at least two correspondingrobots configured to transport at least a portion of the product betweenprocesses. One or more zones associated with the process P1 correspondto process P3 (e.g., via process systems P3.1, P3.2, . . . , P3.n). Oncethe product is received at the process P3, one or more operations areperformed on at least a portion of the product by one or more of theprocess systems P3.1, P3.2, . . . , P3.n, after which the product istransported to the transfer mechanism TM1. The transport mechanism TM2transports the product from the process P3 to the process P5 (e.g., viaconveyor).

The product is received by one or more of the process systems P5.1,P5.2, . . . , P5.n, at least one of which performs at least oneoperation on at least a portion of the product. After the at least oneoperation is performed, the product is output from the process P5 to atransport mechanism TM2. The transport mechanism TM2 conveys the productoutput from the process P5 to at least one of the process systems P9.1and P9.2, and to the transport system TS (e.g., via the zones Z9.3,Z9.n). A production process may conclude at the process P9, for example,where the process P9 is a book covering process or a distributionprocessing station.

FIG. 3 provides a more detailed illustration of the relationship andoperations between the processes P1 and P3 as provided in FIG. 2. Thesystem 300 includes four process systems P1.1, P1.2, P1.3, and P1.4 forthe process P1. Each of the process systems P1.1, P1.2, P1.3, and P1.4is configured to provide at least a portion of a printed product to acorresponding input mechanism In1, In2, In3, and In4, respectively. Eachof the input mechanisms In1, In2, In3, and In4 is designed to convey theat least a portion of product processed by at least one of the processsystems P1.1, P1.2, P1.3, and P1.4 to the transport system TS. Asdescribed with reference to FIG. 2, each zone (e.g., zones Z1, Z2, andZ3 of FIG. 3) may be associated with one or more of the process systemsP1.1, P1.2, P1.3, and/or P1.4. Each zone may further include an erroroutput (e.g., E1-E4) configured to output one or more products orportions of product determined to be improper or otherwise in error.

Each zone of the transport system TS of FIG. 3 includes an input siderobot and an output side robot respectively configured to transport atleast a portion of product received at the input side and at least aportion of product received at the output side. For example, the zone Z1of FIG. 3 includes an input side robot R1A and an output side robot R1B,the zone Z2 includes an input side robot R2A and an output side robotR2B, and the zone Z3 includes an input side robot R3A and an output siderobot R3B. The robots of FIG. 3 are each coupled to a track T configuredto permit the robots to move in a longitudinal direction of thetransport system TS.

Each zone further includes at least one output section corresponding tothe process P3. For example, in the system 300, the zone Z1 includes anoutput section OUT1 corresponding to the process system P3.1, two outputsections OUT2 and OUT3 corresponding to the process systems P3.2 andP3.3, and an output section OUT4 corresponding to the process systemP3.4. The output sections OUT1-OUT4 are configured to transport at leasta portion of the product from the transport station TS to at least oneof the process systems P3.1, P3.2, P3.3, and/or P3.4.

One or more of the process systems P3.1, P3.2, P3.3, and/or P3.4 may becoupled to a cover processor. For example, in the embodiment illustratedby FIG. 3, the process systems P3.1 and P3.2 are coupled to a coverprocessor C1, the process system P3.3 is coupled to a cover processorC2, and the process system P3.4 is coupled to a cover processor C3. Eachof the cover processors C1-C3 may require an operator to manually placeone or more product covers to be implemented in association with aprocess (e.g., process P3).

Despite providing a more robust implementation that than of FIG. 1, thesystems of FIGS. 2 and 3 suffer processing drawbacks. For example, theprocess P1.1 can only deliver products to the zone Z1, the processesP1.2 and P1.3 can only deliver to zone Z2, and the process P1.4 can onlydeliver to the zone Z3. Furthermore, if a product delivered into zone Z3is needed for the process system P3.1 due to misplaced product covers byan operator, a robot of the zone Z1 must move out of its zone, a robotof the zone Z2 must move out of its zone and completely out of zone Z1.Only then, may a robot of the zone Z3 obtain the product and transportthe product for processing. These deficiencies result in lost productionand increased process complexity.

FIG. 4 illustrates a third existing implementation of a system 400 forproviding printed products. The system 400 of FIG. 4 includes fourprocess systems P1.1, P1.2, P1.3, and P1.4 associated with a firstprocess P1. The first process P1 may include at least one of the processsystems P1.1, P1.2, P1.3, and/or P1.4 performing at least one operationassociated with a product. The process P1 may output the printed productalong a first conveyor system CS1 which transports the product to thetransport system TS. The transport system TS is configured to convey theproduct from the first process P1 to the third process P3 as describedabove with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The third process P3 of FIG. 4includes three process systems P3.1, P3.2, and P3.3. The third processP3 of FIG. 4 operates in the same manner as described above withreference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The output from at least one of the processsystems P3.1, P3.2, and P3.3 is provided to a second conveyer systemCS2.

The second conveyor system CS2 transports the product between the thirdprocess P3 and a fifth process P5. The fifth process P5 of FIG. 4includes two process systems, P5.1 and P5.2. At least one of the processsystems P5.1 and P5.2 performs at least one operation upon the productreceived via the second conveyor system CS2 and outputs the product to athird conveyor system CS3. The third conveyor system CS3 is configuredto transport the product from the fifth process P5 to a second transportstation TS2. The second transport station TS2 is configured to operatethe same as the transport station TS2, and includes zones Z4, Z5, andZ6, robots R4A, R4B, R5A, R5B, R6A, and R6B, and a track T. The secondtransport station TS2 provides at least a portion of the product to theninth process system P9. The ninth process P9 of FIG. 4 includes threeprocess systems, P9.1, P9.2, and P9.3. The ninth process P9 isconfigured to receive the product and to perform at least one operationon at least a portion of the product. A production process may concludeat the process P9, for example, where the process P9 is a book coveringprocess or a distribution processing station.

The implementation illustrated by FIG. 4 includes a production systemseparated via two transport stations, TS and TS2 for space savingmeasurements. The first conveyor CS1 is configured to provide outputfrom processing systems P1.1-P1.4 with the capability to route productsto the correct zone of the transport station TS. The second conveyorsystem CS2 and/or third conveyor system CS3 may similarly be capable ofrouting products to the correct zone of the transport station TS2. Assuch, manufacturing and distribution sections of the system 400 may beseparated. Each of the processes P1.1, P1.2, P1.3, and P1.4 can deliverproduct to each zone (e.g., zones Z1-Z3) via the provided conveyorsystems in the system 400. Although misplaced covers are no longer aconcern in the system 400 (e.g., because of automated cover distributionconfigured to provide covers to the third process P3), control can stillcause robots to move out of their respective zone depending on distancesbetween pick-up and drop-off locations, similar to the problemsdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. As such, cross-feedissues still occur and cause losses in productivity in the system 400.

FIGS. 5-14 illustrate exemplary embodiments of decentralized systemswhich solve the above-noted issues with existing production systems.Implementations consistent with the present disclosure may include abuffer unit associated with one or more process units. Routingcapabilities on the conveyor systems may be configured to route productsonly to available processes. As such, overall productivity of the systemmay be improved, and efficiency may be optimized by tracking availableprocesses and pending process demand.

In one exemplary embodiment, production systems consistent with thepresent disclosure include printed document product production systems.However, it should be recognized by one having ordinary skill in the artthat aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to only printing,but may be implemented in any production system having two or moreprocesses associated therewith. One or more processes implemented inaccordance with the present disclosure may include at least a portion ofone or more of a printing operation, a sorting operation, a collatingoperation, a jogging operation, a book covering operation, a pagecombining operation, a buffering operation, or any other operationcapable of being performed upon or in association with at least aportion of a product, such as a printed product.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of abuffer 500 according various aspects of the present disclosure. Thebuffer 500 includes at least one of an enclosure 501, an input section502, an output section 504, a storage section 508, a first robot 510, afirst gripper 512, a first circuit 514, a second robot 516, a secondgripper 518, a second circuit 520, a first side disable mechanism 522, asecond side disable mechanism 524, and/or a visual indicia processor526. The buffer 500 includes at least one of an input section 502 and anoutput section 504. In one exemplary embodiment, each of the inputsection 502 and the output section 504 are configured to input and/oroutput at least a portion of a product. Each of the input section 502and the output section 504 may transmit or receive at least a portion ofa product to or from a conveyor, a process, a process system, or anyother element associated with a production system. The input section 502may include or otherwise be associated with or coupled to a visualindicia processor 526. The visual indicia processor 526 may beconfigured to obtain one or more sets of visual data corresponding to atleast a portion of a product and/or one or more parameters associatedwith the at least a portion of the product. In one exemplary embodiment,the visual indicia processor 526 is configured to obtain a uniqueidentifier associated with the at least a portion of the product byobtaining a photograph or other optical identification, scan, ormeasurement associated with the at least a portion of the product.Additionally or alternatively, one or more parameters associated withthe at least a portion of the product may be obtained at least in partusing the visual indicia processor 526.

Although described with reference to visual indicia, it should beappreciated that any form of perceptible indicia may be obtained eitherdirectly from or in association with at least a part of a product,without departing from the spirit and the scope of the presentdisclosure. For example, a radio frequency (RF) identifier associatedwith the at least a portion of the product may be obtained, a QuickResponse (QR) code associated with the at least a portion of the productmay be obtained, a bar code may be scanned or identified, or any otherform of data and/or metadata associated with the at least a portion ofthe product may be obtained either from the at least a portion of theproduct or in association with an aspect of the at least a portion ofthe product. In various embodiments, at least one process may includeprinting an antenna on at least a portion of a product and coupling atleast one electronic device to provide an identifier or parameterassociated with the at least a portion of the product.

Each of the input section 502 and the output section 504 may be coupledto a processor 506. The processor 506 may be configured to control oneor more operations associated with the buffer 500, including one or moreoperations of or associated with at least one of the input section 502,the output section 504, the storage section 508, the first robot 510,the first gripper 512, the first circuit 514, the second robot 516, thesecond gripper 518, the second circuit 520, the first side disablemechanism 522, the second side disable mechanism 524, and/or the visualindicia processor 526. In various embodiments, systems consistent withthe present disclosure may include a plurality of buffers 500. In suchconfigurations, each processor 506 of each buffer 500 may be configuredto control one or more operations of any locally or remotely-locatedcomponent of any buffer 500. Additionally or alternatively, at least oneprocessor 506 may be located remotely from one or more buffer 500. Inone exemplary embodiment, one or more operations associated with abuffer 500 may be controlled by a remote source, such as another buffer500 or a control server (not illustrated). Remote control and/orcommands may be transmitted and/or received via one or more wired orwireless communications connections associated with at least oneprocessor 506, where the one or more wireless communications connectionsare configured to be communicated via one or more public and/or privatenetworks.

A first robot 510 may be coupled to the processor 506. The first robot510 may include a first gripper 512 and a first circuit 514. The firstgripper 512 may be an electromechanical device configured to convey atleast a portion of a product within the buffer 500. Additionaldescription relating to the first gripper 512 may be found below, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 9. The first gripper 512 may beassociated with at least one of the input section 502 and the outputsection 504 in various embodiments. In one exemplary embodiment, thefirst gripper 512 is configured to convey at least a portion of aproduct received by the buffer 500 at the input section 502 and totransport the at least a portion of the product to and from the storagesection 508 of the buffer 500. Unlike existing systems, a configurationof the storage section 508 may be configured in a vertical (e.g.,stacked, multi-layer) manner rather than a horizontal (e.g.,single-layer) manner. The illustrated storage configuration furtherprovides a compressed design which is configurable and/or expandable.Doing so enables significantly increasing storage capacity of a buffer500. Additionally, inventions consistent with the present disclosure mayinclude at least one of predetermined storage locations for products orportions thereof, or may additionally or alternatively comprise storagelearning and/or tracking algorithms configured to efficiently store andretrieve products and portions thereof with respect to the storagesection 508. For example, one algorithm may be used to identify or scanat least a portion of the storage section 508 by at least one componentof the buffer 500 to determine one or more storage spaces and/orconfigurations for use by the buffer 500.

The first gripper 512 is configured to be moved and/or controlled viathe first circuit 514. The first circuit 514 includes one or more motiveelements configured to transport or otherwise manipulate a position,location, speed of movement, relative angle, or any other parameterassociated with a physical location and/or orientation of the firstgripper 512. Additional information relating to the first circuit 514and its relationship with the first gripper 512 may be found herein, asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

A second robot 516 may be coupled to the processor 506. The second robot516 may include a second gripper 518 and a second circuit 520. Thesecond gripper 518 may be an electromechanical device configured toconvey at least a portion of a product within the buffer 500. Additionaldescription relating to the second gripper 518 may be found below, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 9. The second gripper 518 may beassociated with at least one of the input section 502 and the outputsection 504 in various embodiments. In one exemplary embodiment, thesecond gripper 518 is configured to convey at least a portion of aproduct received by the buffer 500 at the input section 502 and totransport the at least a portion of the product to and from the storagesection 508 of the buffer 500. The second gripper 518 is configured tobe moved and/or controlled via the second circuit 520. The secondcircuit 520 includes one or more motive elements configured to transportor otherwise manipulate a position, location, speed of movement,relative angle, or any other parameter associated with a physicallocation and/or orientation of the second gripper 518. Additionalinformation relating to the second circuit 520 and its relationship withthe second gripper 518 may be found herein, as described with referenceto FIGS. 8 and 9.

A first side disable mechanism 522 may be coupled to at least one of theprocessor 506 and the first robot 510. In one exemplary embodiment, thefirst side disable mechanism 522 is configured to disable operations ofa first set of components of the buffer 500. For example, the first sidedisable mechanism 522 may be a moveable safety curtain at a firstlocation of the buffer 500. At least one of the first circuit 514 andthe processor 506 may be configured to generate and/or obtain anindication that the moveable safety curtain has moved or that a firstportion of the buffer 500 should be disabled. Responsive to theindication, at least one of the first circuit 514 and the processor 506may be configured to disable operation of at least a subset ofcomponents of the buffer 500. For example, in one embodiment, theindication may be configured to cause at least a portion of operationsassociated with the input section 502 and/or first robot 510 to at leasttemporarily cease operation. In various embodiments, the indication maybe at least one of a mechanical signal and/or an electronic signalvariously received from at least one component of the buffer 500.

Similar to the configuration of the first side disable mechanism 522, asecond side disable mechanism 524 may be coupled to at least one of theprocessor 506 and the second robot 516. In one exemplary embodiment, thesecond side disable mechanism 524 is configured to disable operations ofa second set of components of the buffer 500. For example, the secondside disable mechanism 524 may be a moveable safety curtain at a firstlocation of the buffer 500. At least one of the second circuit 520 andthe processor 506 may be configured to generate and/or obtain anindication that the moveable safety curtain has moved or that a secondportion of the buffer 500 should be disabled. Responsive to theindication, at least one of the second circuit 520 and the processor 506may be configured to disable operation of at least a subset ofcomponents of the buffer 500. For example, in one embodiment, theindication may be configured to cause at least a portion of operationsassociated with the output section 502 and/or second robot 516 to atleast temporarily cease operation. In various embodiments, theindication may be at least one of a mechanical signal and/or anelectronic signal variously received from at least one component of thebuffer 500.

During operation, when the indication is received relating to at leastone of the first or second subsets of components of the buffer 500, atleast one of the first circuit 514, the second circuit 520, and/or theprocessor 506 may be configured to cause at least a portion of thebuffer 500 to continue operations despite the temporarily ceasedoperations of at least one subset of components of the buffer 500. Forexample, when one or more operations associated with the input section502 are temporarily ceased, one or more components associated with theoutput section 504 may perform one or more operations previouslyperformed by the one or more operations associated with the inputsection 502. For example, when the first robot 510 is performing atleast one operation associated with the input section 502 andoperation(s) of the first robot 510 are temporarily ceased, at least onecomponent of the second robot 516 may be configured to perform at leastone of the temporarily ceased operations of the first robot 510. Thismay include a situation where one of the first and second robots 510,516 is temporarily ceased and the other of the first and second robots510, 516 is configured to perform operations associated with thetemporarily ceased robot. In various embodiments, each of the first andsecond robots 510, 516 is configured to perform any and/or all of theoperations associated with the input section 502 and the output section504.

In one embodiment, operations associated with one of the first andsecond robots 510, 516 may be temporarily ceased responsive to at leastone mechanical and/or electrical indication signal as previouslydescribed. The non-ceased, other of the first and second robots 510, 516may then perform the functions of the ceased, other robot. For example,a safety curtain at a first side of a buffer 500 may be closed, therebycausing a first side (and thereby, for example, the first robot 510) tobe disabled. At least one of the first circuit 514, the second circuit520, and/or the processor 506 may recognize that one of the first robot510 and/or the second robot 516 is disabled, and may cause the other ofthe first robot 510 and/or the second robot 516 to perform one or moreoperations associated with the disabled robot or associatedoperation(s). Additionally or alternatively, the buffer 500 may beconfigured to determine and/or receive an indication of a single robotmode, whereby at least one of the first robot 510 and/or the secondrobot 516 may perform one or more operations associated with another ofthe first robot 510 and/or second robot 516. For example, in oneexemplary embodiment, each of the first robot 510 and the second robot516 are capable of performing one or more operations of another of thefirst robot 510 and/or second robot 516, including but not limited toall operations associated with another of the first robot 510 and/orsecond robot 516. Thus, in various embodiments, a single robot of thefirst robot 510 and second robot 516 may perform all operationsassociated with both the input section 502, the output section 504 andthe storage section, without departing from the spirit and the scope ofthe present disclosure. In one exemplary embodiment, providing at leastone safety curtain in the described manner may enable maintenance and/orrepair while the buffer 500 is operational by isolating only one portionof the buffer 500 with the safety curtain.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front, raised perspective view of an exemplaryembodiment of a buffer 500 according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure. The buffer 500 may include the enclosure 501. In oneembodiment, at least one of the size and/or a dimension of the buffer500 may be selected according to a shipping size and/or a specificimplementation requirement. For example, in one embodiment, a size ofthe buffer 500 may be 2.5 meters wide×2.3 meters deep×6 meters tall(e.g., as implemented relative to the size of a standard shippingcontainer). A size, shape, and implementation orientation of the storagesection 508 is illustrated in FIG. 6, although additional discussion isincluded herein below with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG. 6illustrates the first robot 510 in an optional resting or initializationposition at a base of the buffer 500. The buffer 500 or portions thereofmay be configured so as to be moveable rather than static in nature.Furthermore, each buffer 500 may be configured to shipped as a completeunit, rather than requiring parts or portion to be assembled on-site.

FIG. 7 provides a partial side view of an exemplary embodiment of abuffer 500 according to aspects of the present disclosure. The buffer500 includes the enclosure 501, the storage section 508, the first robot510 (including the first gripper 512 and the first circuit 514), and thesecond robot 516 (including the second gripper 518 and the secondcircuit 520). FIG. 7 further illustrates a first track 702 associatedwith the first robot 510 and a second track 704 associated with thesecond robot 516. In one exemplary embodiment, at least one of the firstrobot 510 and the second robot 516 is configured to move in thelongitudinal direction of the buffer 500 based, at least in part, upon acoupling between the first robot 510 and the first track 702, and/or thesecond robot 516 and the second track 704. An upper portion of thebuffer 500 indicated via dashed lines is further illustrated by FIG. 10,as described herein. A lower portion of the buffer 500 indicated viadashed line sin FIG. 7 is further illustrated by FIG. 8, as describedherein.

FIG. 8 illustrates a partial cutaway side view of a lower section of anexemplary embodiment of a buffer 500 according to aspects of the presentdisclosure. The buffer 500 illustrated in FIG. 8 includes the firstrobot 510 and the second robot 516, respectively coupled to the firsttrack 702 and the second track 704 of the buffer 500. The first robot510 includes the first gripper 512 and the first circuit 514, while thesecond robot 516 includes the second gripper 518 and the second circuit520. The first robot 510 further includes a horizontal axis drive 802.The horizontal axis drive 802 is configured in various embodiments tocontrol movement of the first gripper 512 in one or more directions. Thesecond robot 516 may include a horizontal axis gripper 804 configured invarious embodiments to enable movement of the second gripper 518 in oneor more directions.

The second robot 516 optionally includes an arresting unit 806 coupledbetween the second robot 516 and the second track 704. In variousembodiments, the arresting unit 806 is optionally configured to restrictand/or stop motion of the second robot 516 in a direction associatedwith the labeled Y-axis. Although not illustrated in FIG. 8, the firstrobot 510 may include an arresting unit 806 coupled between the firstrobot 510 and the first track 702, which may be configured to restrictand/or stop motion of the first robot 510 in a direction associated withthe labeled Y-axis. The buffer 500 may further include one or more legs808 coupled to an external surface of the enclosure 501. In oneexemplary embodiment, the one or more legs 808 may include a groundplate which may be levelled before the buffer 500 is coupled thereto.The ground plate may be configured to be relatively easily positionedand/or fixed to a surface. The ground plate may be equipped with one ormore couplers (e.g., bolts) configured to center the buffer 500 on theground plate for better accuracy. In one embodiment, the ground plate isconfigured with one or more rollers permitting flexible relocation ofthe buffer 500 in case of configuration changes. The ground plate may befurther configured to place the buffer 500 into a vertical orientationin various embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a raised perspective view of an exemplary embodimentof a gripper 512, 518 according to aspects of the present disclosure.The gripper 512, 518 includes a body 902. At least one lower gripsections 904 extends outwardly from the body 902. Although illustratedwith 5 lower grip sections (e.g., formed as a single unit or implementedindividually), it should be appreciated that each at least one lowergrip section 904 may include a single section or a plurality of sectionswithout departing from the spirit and the scope of the presentdisclosure. For example, although illustrated with five sections, eachlower grip section 904 may include one section or any number of aplurality of lower grip sections 904.

The gripper 512, 518 may further include at least one upper grip section906. Like the lower grip section 904, each upper grip section 906 mayinclude a single section or a plurality of sections without departingfrom the spirit and the scope of the present disclosure. For example,although illustrated with five sections, each upper grip section 906 mayinclude one section or any number of a plurality of upper grip sections906. The upper grip section 906 may be at least partially coupled to thebody 902 and/or may be moveably coupled to a movement portion 912 of amotor 910. In one exemplary embodiment, the motor 910 is a linear motor,although any motor or combination of motors may be used within thecontext of the present disclosure. The gripper 512, 518 may furtherinclude at least one connector 908. One or more of the at least oneconnector 908 may be configured to couple at least a portion of thegripper 512, 518 to at least a portion of the first or second circuit510, 516, and/or to at least one component of the buffer 500. At leastone connector 908 may be a coupler configured to couple to the buffer500.

FIG. 10 illustrates a partial side view of an exemplary embodiment of abuffer 500 according to various aspects of the present disclosure. Thebuffer 500 of FIG. 10 includes the enclosure 501, the storage section508, the first track 702, and the second track 704 as previouslydescribed herein. The buffer 500 includes a vertical axis drive 1002.The vertical axis drive 1002 may be configured to control movement ofthe first robot 510 in one or more directions associated with thelabeled Y-axis. In one exemplary embodiment, the vertical axis drive1002 is a motor configured to manipulate a position of the first robot510 along the longitudinal direction of the buffer 500. The second robot516 similarly is optionally coupled to a vertical axis drive 1004. Thevertical axis drive 1004 may be configured to control movement of thesecond robot 516 in one or more directions associated with the labeledY-axis. In one exemplary embodiment, the vertical axis drive 1004 is amotor configured to manipulate a position of the second robot 516 alongthe longitudinal direction of the buffer 500.

The buffer 500 may further include at least one curtain 1006. Each atleast one curtain 1006 may be mechanically and/or electrically coupledto at least one of the first disable mechanism 522, the second disablemechanism 524, and/or the processor 506 and may be configured tooperation in the manner described above with reference to FIG. 5. One ormore curtain 1006 may be associated with a roller 1008 configured toretain at least a portion of the one or more curtain 1006, or torestrict movement thereof.

FIG. 11 illustrates a raised perspective view of an exemplary embodimentof a robot 1100 according to aspects of the present disclosure. Therobot 1100 illustrated by FIG. 11 may be implemented in accordance withat least one of the first robot 510 and/or the second robot 516. Aspreviously described, the robot 510, 516 may include at least one of agripper 512, 518 and a circuit 514, 520. The circuit 514, 520 may beconfigured to cause the gripper 512, 518 to move in at least onevertical direction related to the labeled Y-axis of FIG. 11 (e.g., alongitudinal direction of the buffer 500), in at least one lateraldirection related to the labeled X-axis of FIG. 11, and/or in at leastone forward direction related to the labeled Z axis of FIG. 11. Eachgripper 512, 518 may be configured to expand and/or close in accordancewith a direction related to the labeled direction K, which may or maynot be related to the labeled Y-axis.

While the making and using of various embodiments of the presentinvention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated thatthe present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts thatcan be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways tomake and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of theinvention.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-14, exemplary systems, apparatuses, andmethods for providing print media assembly, buffering, and sorting areillustrated in greater detail. Where the various figures may describeembodiments sharing various common elements and features with otherembodiments, similar elements and features are given the same referencenumerals and redundant description thereof may be omitted below.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a system 1400 forproviding printed products using at least one unit for buffering and/orsorting, according to aspects of the present disclosure. The system 1400includes a first process P1 configured to perform at least one operationon at least a portion of a product. The process P1 may include aplurality of process systems P1.1, P1.2, . . . , P1.n. One or more ofthe process systems P1.1., P1.2, . . . , P1.n may be coupled to a firstconveyor unit CU1. Also coupled to the first conveyor unit CU1 may be atleast one buffer B0. The at least one buffer B0 may be a buffer 500 aspreviously described herein. At least one of the first process P1, thebuffer B0, and the first conveyor unit CU1 may be configured to receiveat least a portion of a product to be operated upon in an exemplaryembodiment. One or more elements of the first process P1 may beconfigured to receive the at least a portion of the product and toperform at least one operation on at least a portion of the product.After performing the at least one operation, at least one component ofthe first process P1 may be configured to transfer the at least aportion of the product to the first conveyor unit CU1. The firstconveyor unit CU1 may be configured to transfer at least a portion ofthe product from at least one of the buffer B0 and/or the first processP1 to at least one of the buffers B1, B2, B3. One or more of the buffersB0-B7 illustrated in FIG. 14 may be configured to perform a sortingprocess in one exemplary embodiment. For example, one or more buffersmay be configured to store at least a portion of the product, which maybe combined, collated, or otherwise selectively combined or sorted by atleast one buffer and/or other component of the system 1400.

At least a portion of the product may be optionally received by one ormore of the buffers B1, B2, B3 based at least in part upon selectorsSE1, SE2, SE3 respectively coupled to the buffers B1, B2, B3. Operationof the selectors SE1, SE2, SE3 may be controlled at least in part usingat least one of a processor 506, a first circuit 514, and/or a secondcircuit 520 of at least one buffer 500, or may be locally or remotelycontrolled via one or more control signals generated by, received by, orotherwise accessible to the system 1400. Additionally or alternatively,as previously noted, one or more routing capabilities on the conveyorsystems of the system 1400 may be configured to route products orportions thereof only to available processes. As such, overallproductivity of the system may be improved, and efficiency may beoptimized by tracking available processes and pending process demand.

Each of the buffers B1, B2, B3 may be configured to receive and/or storeat least a portion of the product received from the first conveyor unitCU1. Each of the buffers B1, B2, B3 may be configured to store one ormore portions of a product until a control signal or request isgenerated, received, or otherwise obtained by the respective buffer B1,B2, B3 during operation. In one exemplary embodiment, at least one ofthe buffers of the system 1400, and/or a local or remotely locatedcontrol unit may be configured to monitor, track, and/or controloperation of at least one product, portion of product, and/or element ofthe system 1400 during operation. For example, in one embodiment, acurrent utilization of each process and/or component may be tracked ormeasured. Similarly, a current status, load, and/or utilization of eachbuffer of the system 1400 may be tracked, monitored, and/or controlled.At least one operation associated with the system 1400 may be generatedor performed based at least in part upon a parameter of at least one ofa process and/or a buffer. In this exemplary embodiment, one or moreproducts or portions of products stored at a buffer of system 1400 maybe routed to a respective process based at least in part upon theparameter of the at least one process and/or buffer.

In one embodiment, a status of a product or portion thereof, as well asa parameter of a buffer of system 1400 may be tracked in accordance withat least one of an identifier or parameter associated with the productor portion thereof. During operation, a buffer of the system 1400 may beconfigured to determine at least one of an identifier and a parameterassociated with a received product or portion thereof (e.g., bydetermining visual or other indicia as previously described). At leastone of the determined identifier and/or parameter may be used toselectively store and/or transmit a product or portion thereof withinthe system 1400 (e.g., between the various buffers and one or moreprocesses or process systems thereof).

After performing at least one operation on at least a portion of theproduct, the corresponding buffer(s) B1, B2, B3, transmit(s) the productor portion thereof to the second conveyor unit CU2. The second conveyorunit CU2 is configured to selectively transmit the product or portionthereof to at least one of the process P3, the process P5, and/or thebuffer B4. If it is determined that the product or at least a portionthereof is to be processed by the third process P3, the correspondingproduct or portion thereof is transmitted to at least one determinedprocess system P3.1, P3.2, P3.3 via a respective selection path SE4,SES, SE6. Although illustrated with reference to three process systemsP3.1, P3.2, P3.3, it should be appreciated that the third process P3 mayhave any number of corresponding process systems without departing fromthe spirit and the scope of the present disclosure. After performing oneor more operations on the product or portion thereof, at least one ofthe process systems P3.1, P3.2, and/or P3.3 transmits the product or atleast a portion thereof to the second conveyor unit CU2 via at least onecorresponding return path RE1, RE2, RE3.

The second conveyor unit CU2 continues to a fifth process P5. If it isdetermined that the product or at least a portion thereof is to beprocessed by the fifth process P5, the corresponding product or portionthereof is transmitted to at least one determined process system P5.1 orP5.2 via a respective selection path SE4 or SE5. Although illustratedwith reference to two process systems P5.1 and P5.2, it should beappreciated that the fifth process P5 may have any number ofcorresponding process systems without departing from the spirit and thescope of the present disclosure. After performing one or more operationson the product or portion thereof, at least one of the process systemsP5.1 and/or P5.2 transmits the product or at least a portion thereof tothe third conveyor unit CU3.

Also coupled to the second conveyor unit CU2 is at least one buffer B4.Control of the second conveyor unit CU2 may be such that the conveyorunit CU2 may operate in a bi-directional manner, at least with respectto the buffer B4 and the process system P5.2. As such, at least one of aproduct or portion thereof may be stored by the buffer B4 and/ortransmitted by the buffer B4 to the second conveyor unit CU2 duringoperation in the manner described herein.

The third conveyor unit CU3 may be coupled to one or more of buffers B5,B6, B7. In one embodiment, a status of a product or portion thereof, aswell as a parameter of a buffer of system 1400 may be tracked inaccordance with at least one of an identifier or parameter associatedwith the product or portion thereof by at least one of the buffers B5,B6, B7. As noted above, during operation a buffer of the system 1400 maybe configured to determine at least one of an identifier and/or aparameter associated with a received product or portion thereof (e.g.,by determining visual or other indicia as previously described). Atleast one of the determined identifier and/or parameter may be used toselectively store and/or transmit a product or portion thereof withinthe system 1400 (e.g., between the various buffers and one or moreprocesses or process systems thereof).

After performing at least one store and/or transmit operation on atleast a portion of the product, the corresponding buffer(s) B5, B6, B7,transmits the product or portion thereof to the fourth conveyor unitCU4. The fourth conveyor unit CU4 is configured to selectively transmitthe product or portion thereof to at the ninth process P9 (i.e., to atleast one of process systems P9.1, P9.2, . . . , P9.n). If it isdetermined that the product or at least a portion thereof is to beprocessed by the ninth process P9, the corresponding product or portionthereof is transmitted to at least one determined process system P9.1,P9.2, P9.n via a respective selection path SE10, SE11, SE12. Aproduction process may conclude at the process P9, for example, wherethe process P9 is a book covering process or a distribution processingstation.

In various embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, a processor process system as described herein may be configured to perform atleast one operation, including: a printing operation, a sortingoperation, a collating operation, a jogging operation, a book coveringoperation, a page combining operation, or any other processing operationfor a printed material and/or product, or any operation capable of beingperformed during a production process.

Although described with reference to print media, one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure may be implemented for non-print media and/orcombined print and non-print media embodiments. For example, a buffer500 consistent with the present disclosure may be capable of receiving atray filled with one or more goods for fulfillment and/or one or moregood may be directly placed within the buffer 500. As such, one or moreheights or distances between shelved or a total height of a buffer 500may be configured to receive one or more goods or containers of goodsfor a particular order, and in one embodiment may be stored until readyto be shipped, delivered, or fulfilled.

To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, anumber of terms are defined below. The terms defined herein havemeanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in theareas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,” “an,” and“the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but ratherinclude the general class of which a specific example may be used forillustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specificembodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit theinvention, except as set forth in the claims. The phrase “in oneembodiment,” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the sameembodiment, although it may.

The term “circuit” means at least either a single component or amultiplicity of components, either active and/or passive, that arecoupled together to provide a desired function. Terms such as “wire,”“wiring,” “line,” “signal,” “conductor,” and “bus” may be used to referto any known structure, construction, arrangement, technique, methodand/or process for physically transferring a signal from one point in acircuit to another. Also, unless indicated otherwise from the context ofits use herein, the terms “known,” “fixed,” “given,” “certain” and“predetermined” generally refer to a value, quantity, parameter,constraint, condition, state, process, procedure, method, practice, orcombination thereof that is, in theory, variable, but is typically setin advance and not varied thereafter when in use.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,”“may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, orotherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intendedto convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments donot include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, suchconditional language is not generally intended to imply that features,elements and/or states are in any way required for one or moreembodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logicfor deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether thesefeatures, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed inany particular embodiment.

The previous detailed description has been provided for the purposes ofillustration and description. Thus, although there have been describedparticular embodiments of a new and useful invention, it is not intendedthat such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of thisinvention except as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for providing a multiple processworkflow, the system comprising: a first process device configured toconvey at least a portion of a printed element; an apparatus including:a storage section; an input section configured to receive the at least aportion of the printed element; a gripper configured to selectivelytransport the at least a portion of the printed element from the inputsection to the storage section and to selectively transport the at leasta portion of the printed element from the storage section; and an outputsection configured to selectively transfer the at least a portion of theprinted element from the storage section; and a second process deviceconfigured to perform at least one operation on the at least a portionof the printed element.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the firstprocess device is configured to perform at least one of a printingoperation, a sorting operation, a collating operation, a joggingoperation, a book covering operation, or a page combining operation. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein the second process device is configuredto perform at least one of a printing operation, a sorting operation, acollating operation, a jogging operation, a book covering operation, ora page combining operation.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein thestorage section of the apparatus comprises at least one segment having aplurality of ridges and valleys, the segment configured to storethereupon the at least a portion of the printed element.
 5. The systemof claim 1, wherein the input section comprises a visual indiciadetector configured to identify at least one property associated withthe at least a portion of the printed element.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein the apparatus further comprises a second gripper, the secondgripper associated with at least one of the input section and the outputsection, the second gripper configured to perform at least one of: (i)selectively transporting the at least a portion of the printed elementfrom the input section to the storage section, (ii) selectivelytransporting the at least a portion of the printed element from thestorage section, and (iii) selectively transporting the at least aportion of the printed element to the output section.
 7. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the gripper and the second gripper are configured tocooperatively operate to perform at least one of buffering and sorting.8. The system of claim 6, wherein the gripper is configured to performoperations associated with the at least a portion of the printed elementrelating to the input section, and wherein the second gripper isconfigured to perform operations associated with the at least a portionof the printed element in relation to the output section.
 9. The systemof claim 1, wherein the apparatus further includes a processorconfigured to control at least one operation of the apparatus.
 10. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to cause thegripper to selectively transport a media portion received at the inputsection to the storage section upon receipt of the media portion, and toselectively cause the gripper to transport the media portion to theoutput section based at least in part upon a control signal received atthe processor.
 11. A system for performing at least one of buffering orsorting a printed element, the system comprising: a first process deviceconfigured to convey at least a portion of a printed element; anapparatus, including: a storage section including at least one segmenthaving a plurality of ridges and valleys, the at least one segmentconfigured to store the at least a portion of the printed element, and agripper configured to selectively transport the at least portion of theprinted element to and from the storage section; and an output sectionconfigured to selectively output the at least portion of the printedelement; and a second process device configured to perform at least oneoperation in association with the at least a portion of the printedelement.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first process device isconfigured to perform at least one of a printing operation, a sortingoperation, a collating operation, a jogging operation, a book coveringoperation, or a page combining operation.
 13. The system of claim 11,wherein the second process device is configured to perform at least oneof a printing operation, a sorting operation, a collating operation, ajogging operation, a book covering operation, or a page combiningoperation.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the storage sectionfurther comprises: a first storage portion and a second storage portion,each of the first storage portion and the second storage portion havinga respective plurality of ridges and a respective plurality of valleysformed therein, the plurality of ridges and the plurality of valleysconfigured to form at least one cavity, wherein the plurality of ridgesof the first storage portion and the second storage portion, and theplurality of valleys of the first storage portion and the second storageportion are configured such that at least a portion of the at least onegripper is received in the at least one cavity.
 15. A system forperforming at least one of buffering or sorting a printed element, thesystem comprising: a first process device configured to convey at leasta portion of a printed element; a storage section including: at leastone gripper; a plurality of ridges and a plurality of valleys configuredto form at least one cavity, wherein the plurality of ridges and theplurality of valleys are configured such that at least a portion of theat least one gripper is received in the at least one cavity; and anoutput section configured to selectively output the at least portion ofthe printed element; and a second process device having a secondoperation configuration, the second process device configured to performat least one operation in association with the at least a portion of theprinted element.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first processdevice is configured to perform at least one of a printing operation, asorting operation, a collating operation, a jogging operation, a bookcovering operation, or a page combining operation.
 17. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the second process device is configured to perform atleast one of a printing operation, a sorting operation, a collatingoperation, a jogging operation, a book covering operation, or a pagecombining operation.